Parcel parachute



June 15 1926. 1,588,713

l J. H. ELLINGSWORTH PARCEL PARACHUTE Filed Dec. 24, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 15 1926.

J. H. ELLINGSWORTH PARCEL PARACHUTE Filed DeC. 24, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

TTORNEY..

Patented June v15, 1926.

s UNiTEn stares- JOSEPH H. ELLINGSWOBTH, OFEAST MOLlNE, ILLINOIS.

PARCEL PARACHTE.

Application filed December 24, 1,925. SeraI No. 77,570.

vMy invention has` Areference to parcel parachutes, and is similar in character, and makes use of some of the parts, of a parachute for which I have Afiled an application forLetters Patent of the United States,

viding a small parachute for each packageV to be discharged, such parachute being stored in a container, from which it is automatically released upon the package being` dropped overboard. Connected therewith is a contrivance for compelling thesatisfac-` tory openingof the, parachute, such as is set forth in said former applica-tion.

Another featureA thereof is the provision of means for illuminating` the parachute coincidently with its discharge, soA that its l course will be observable vunder conditions ist . 2 the cockpit thereof.

of darkness.

The above-named, and' other features and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows the rear portion of the fuselage of an airship, with the'invention attached thereto.

` Fig. 2 shows the invention in longitudinal section. A

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the parachute, distended. f

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the discharge end'of the easing 3. Y

The reference number 1 indicates a frag mentary part ofthe body of an air-ship, and 3 is'a cylindrical casing, of slightly taperedfornl, and provided at its small end with a cylinder 4 of reduced size, in which is slidable a rod 5, on the outer end of which is a ring 6, connected with a ring 7 attached to the side of the airplane. Fixed to said rod within the casing 5 is a disk 8, and on the inner end of said rod is a head 9. 10 is a cylinder of Asuitable shape and size to bereceived the large end of the casing '3, and provided with a rolled end l1, te which is fixed a cate-h i1",

for engagement with an annular bead '3ll on the outer faceof the casing 3. By this means the cylinder 10 is held removably in place.'

Vfithin the ycasing1() is a parachute 13', packed in a compactfmanner, and having cords'14'attached to its edge, said cords be-` ing connected with a ring on the end of a rod 16, on which is slidable a plug 17, forming a closure for the endV of the tube 10. Fixed to theinner end ,of the rod 16 is a catch formed of a plurality ofV arms 18,

provided at their endsv with feet 19 whichV have a frictional engagement with the Wall of thecasing 10, and prevent accidental re- 'V lease of the plate 17. The armsk18 are Vformed of resilient material, and when force is applied to the rod 16 to draw the same outwardly, the arms 18 spring outwardly until the catch'is released, permitting its escape from the tube 10, togetherl with the plug 17. A coiled spring 2O connects the plug 17. with the rod 16, at a point near theV catch 1S, such spring tending Vto hold the plug' 1n its position in the tube., As the rod is drawn outwardly ythe spring is`V com PATENTl oFFicE- pressed, andthe plug forced from its vseat'.

' The cylinder 3 is held normally in-a horizontal position by means Vo'f'a spring catch 21, and fixed to saidcylinder is a ring 22,

from which a chain, 23 leads upwardly intoV the cock-pit. It is thereby possible for the`v operator to release the cylinder 8, and raise the large end thereof to a point near the Cock-pit, for the purpose of inserting the tube 10, or removing the same. A chain 24 alsoV leads from the cock-pit to a ring in. the endfof the rod 16, the other end of said chain being attached to a bundle of mail or l other package inthe cockipit. ,v

l/Vhen it is desired to dropar parcel from the air-ship, it is merely'icast oversboard, the weight of the parcel operating to pull the cylinder 3 downwardly, releasing the same from the catch 21, and swinging it into a vertical position. The weight of the'package then draws the catch 18 and plug 17 outwardly, these being followed by the parachute, which gradually opens, in manner described in said former application, the upper part of the parachute being retarded by the partial vacuum caused in the upper end of the cylinder 3through the action of the piston 8 in theV casing The parachute and its load gradually to the groundi lll/5 For4 cognveniencewa numberofthe para; chutes may be employed, each 1n its own container l0, and each attached to its particular load. VAfterc a pareel-fhas been-disfcharged the cylinder 3 is raised and the casing 10, which remains in the I replaced with another one. These cyl1n.

ders may be of different sizes, to suit the size :of'lthe package with Whichthey are-` used, and the parachutes will `be similarly varied 'asto size.:v

A light bulb 25 is supported from .the

under =side..of the parachute, and Connected by Wire With asmallelectricbattery'26 on the inner face ofthe pl11g.l7,.the battery be.-

ingvplovided .Wi-th alswitch kcontfolledrby a pin 27actuateid byuone. of theuarms 18 when the catch-isreleased, turning onthe light inf the fbulb.. This. is for-use when apackage- Will be -providedfor informing the operator ofthe pla-ne as to hislocation, and the points -k atwhich'the.mailor other parcels arextobe discharged.

It `will beobserved. that by the. use lof theinvention a great deal! of. time -Willbely saved,l

as lthen air-manscanflreepl steadily on yhis cou-rse., ,dropping Athe7various packages `of I mail-atnthe places -for-Wh1ch they are des-r tined.

kllhatzl claim, and desire to i secureby.

Letters `Patent, ist- 1. Adevi-ce of-.the class described, com.h

prisingg.v a cylinder .adapted .to be swingingly supported atene-of itsiends. to theV side of:

anv .air-ship; a tubularunember removably helfd .1n2 the movable, end I.of said cylinder;

and a sparachute'contained inisaid tubular Y member, and capable :of discharge therefrom by'ftheaveightof anobject attached thereto.

2. .A ,device of -thefclass described,A comprisingl a cylinder, adapted-tothe. swingingly attached to lthefbody of anair-ship; va tubular. memberadapted to, be removably held., in said cylinder; aparachute lpackedin said..

tubulan member ,so asY to `distend upon leaving; the same; ,a closure. for saidltubularmember, connectedi With -saidwparachutm means `for holdingsaidf'parachute against accidental releaseffroin.I said tubulanmem ber; and means for.- attachment to -said paracylinder, is'l chute-cfa parcelfthe Weight of'whichwill operate to discharge the parachute from its container.

3.-,A-de'vice Yof themclass described, lcomprising a receptacle adapted. for attachment to thebody of an air-ship, having a discharge end capable of being directed downwardly; a. container removablyheld in the discharge end of said receptacle; a parachute folded in said container Vso that the top. thereof .Will be the last .to leave the same; means. in said receptacleffor retardingthel release: of .the top ofsaid parachute; and.

means for attachment to the `parachijite of anV object, the, Weight. of whichv Will l.cause the release of the vparachute from the container.

L1. A device of the class described, comprising acylinder adapted to be swingingly supported atfone. of. its endsto the sideL of anv air-ship yg atubular. container removably held ,in saidA cylinder; a. parachute. folded, in said container so as to be dischargedby the Weight of an` object .attached thereto; a lightingelement carried by said parachute; andfmeans for .illuminating said lightin'gele.- Y ment, set inoperation uponsaid parachute being discharged. from said container.

5. A deviceoftheclass-described, ,comprisinga avcy-linderadapted for. attachmentl at. one of 4its ends tothe=body ofen Vairl ship; a flexiblelconnection'; for .the-free-end thereof,.by vmeans of. which it may .bef raised or lowered; means. for lholdingvsaid, cylin. der normally ina horizontal position; a tu.-

bular container removably heldin said cylin-."`

der ;`l a parachute folded in saidcontainer. so las toidistendzupon leaving?y the same; and a. f closure `for fsaidx container, connectedV with saidi parachute, .and meana for attachment thereof to a parcel, the Weight of which Will Withdraw the Vparachute from thecontainer.v

6.- Adevice of theclass described, comprising a cylinder adapted to be Ipivotally attached to the body of yan air-ship at vone of its ends; a tubular container .removably held in the movable end of said cylinder, adaptedzlto hold a parachute in compact form; and air-exhausting mechanism at the pivotal-'endofsaid cylinder, capable of'operation upon said cylinder beingfswung into position for discharging a vparachute fnom said co11tainer.=

11i-testimony whereof-I aflix my eignature;v

JQSEPH? H.. ELLINGSSWTGRTL imY 

